Admit it. The first thing you brag about when people visit isn't your
lawn. You'd rather crow about your azaleas, peonies, roses, and other
special plants. Yet your grass deserves its own time in the spotlight
because it sets the stage for all of the plantings around it. The
following tips will help your lawn look great.
Shape up--Most lawns have no shape at all. They just merge into the
neighbors' lawns on either side. But border the grass with a walk, brick
edging, or planting beds, and it suddenly becomes a dynamic design
element. Your lawn can be round, square, rectangular, or curvilinear.
Downsize--A big lawn means big maintenance and big water bills. So
unless you like trudging behind a mower or dragging hoses, devote more
yard space to mulched planting beds, ground covers, and paved areas and
less space to grass. You'll thank yourself in July and August.
